Inside a federal courthouse in Virginia on Friday, New York Legal professional Common Letitia James (D), who efficiently prosecuted a civil lawsuit in opposition to President Donald Trump for defrauding bankers about his internet value so he may safe higher mortgage phrases, pleaded not responsible to allegations of financial institution fraud and making false statements.
“Not guilty, judge, to both counts,” James mentioned within the courthouse on Friday, based on CNN.
The costs in opposition to James have been introduced after the president first publicly demanded U.S. Legal professional Common Pam Bondi pursue James in addition to different longtime Trump critics, together with former FBI Director James Comey and Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.). Comey was indicted in September and pleaded not responsible; Schiff has not but been indicted however has been below investigation for alleged mortgage fraud by the Trump Justice Division since August. NBC reported on Thursday, nevertheless, that the investigation into Schiff has stalled and that sources say there merely isn’t sufficient credible info to prosecute the senator. One other Trump critic — former nationwide safety adviser John Bolton — was indicted on 18 counts earlier this month for alleged retention of categorized supplies. Bolton pleaded not responsible.
As for James, the costs in opposition to her solely got here after a Trump-appointed prosecutor in Virginia, Erik Siebert, was pushed out from his function in September, reportedly as a result of he didn’t consider the case in opposition to Comey or James was sturdy sufficient. He was changed with Trump’s onetime private lawyer Lindsey Halligan, who has zero prosecutorial expertise. Thus far, it reveals: Along with a profoundly atypical dealing with of the Comey indictment earlier than a grand jury, this week, Halligan uncovered herself to renewed scrutiny after she initiated a textual content message alternate with a authorized journalist on Sign that reportedly “touched on grand jury matters” — a large no-no that would probably jeopardize the administration’s case.
Win McNamee through Getty Photos
James’ not-guilty plea earlier than Decide Jamar Walker, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, got here as no shock. When James was first indicted, she was unequivocal concerning the case in opposition to her.
“This is nothing more than a continuation of the president’s desperate weaponization of our justice system,” she mentioned. “And so today I am not fearful, I am fearless, and as my faith teaches me, no weapon formed against me shall prosper. We will fight these baseless charges aggressively, and my office will continue to fiercely protect New Yorkers and their rights. And I will continue to do my job.”
James reiterated this on Friday in a press release to HuffPost and prolonged her gratitude to those that have supported her however added: “This is not about me.”
“This is about all of us. And about a justice system which has been weaponized. A justice system which has been used as a tool of revenge. This justice system which has been used as a tool of revenge — and a weapon against those individuals who simply did their job and stood up for the rule of law. And a justice system which unfortunately is being used as a vehicle of retribution,” she mentioned. “But my faith is strong. I have this belief in the justice system and the rule of law. And I have a belief in America and all of its individuals who have stood with me – not only in New York but all across this nation.”
James added that she has “heard from just about every jurisdiction in this nation who have said, ‘Stand up and be tall. Never ever bow down or back down or break or bend.’”
“So, there’s no fear today. No fear. No fear. No fear. No fear. Because I believe that justice will rain down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream,” she mentioned.
In line with the indictment, James is accused of mendacity on a 2020 mortgage utility to obtain extra favorable mortgage phrases for property in Norfolk, Virginia. The Justice Division alleges that she claimed the two-story residence can be her secondary residence, however as an alternative rented it to a member of the family in violation of her authentic mortgage settlement. (Rates of interest are normally decrease for second properties versus funding properties and prosecutors say James saved slightly below $20,000 with the alleged ruse.) The member of the family is Nakia Thompson, James’ grandniece. Thompson has resided on the residence for 5 years, and based on testimony she gave to a grand jury in Norfolk, whereas she lived there, James visited sometimes, however she by no means paid hire to her grand aunt. This alone may blow an enormous gap within the authorities’s declare that James used the house as an funding property.
Forward of the arraignment, ABC Information reported that an inside Justice Division memo concerning the James probe had decided that no matter profit she might have acquired from the allegedly bunk mortgage mortgage utility would have solely amounted to $800 within the first 12 months she bought the house. Federal prosecutors expressed doubt about bringing the costs, the outlet reported, as a result of mortgage pointers for second residences are already ill-defined. The reported writer of the memo, Elizabeth Yusi, was fired by Halligan as a result of she resisted bringing the costs in opposition to James.
“Forcing a political opponent to show up in court to defend baseless criminal charges is like something out of Putin’s Russia — not the America we know and love,” Norm Eisen, the manager chair of Democracy Defenders Fund, mentioned in a press release Friday. “Donald Trump is destroying the rule of law just like he’s tearing down the East Wing White House. All Americans should speak out about the unjust prosecution of Letitia James.”
Decide Walker mentioned he expects a trial for the New York lawyer common would final simply 5 days given the simplicity of the case. DOJ legal professionals reportedly advised the decide they might name eight to 10 witnesses. An lawyer for James didn’t instantly return a request for remark.
